Clinical evaluation of corticotropin therapy in children

Twenty-eight children were treated with corticotropin. Favorable results were obtained in bronchial asthma, non-thrombocytopenic purpura, dermatitis venenata, rheumatic fever, Sydenham's chorea, rheumatoid arthritis, and the nephrotic state. The course of subacute lymphatic leucemia was only temporarily modified. Beneficial results were not obtained in glomerulonephritis, Wilson's disease, polymyositis, and thrombocytopenic purpura. The major untoward effects observed as a consequence of therapy were convulsions and hypertension. Corticotropin represents a valuable and relatively safe addition to the therapy of a number of serious diseases of children.